The World Over...

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.

~~~~~Agatha Christie


Sometimes I can read something written by one of our Warrior Writers and get this sense of instant recognition that it was written by one that wears the uniform of the United States Military.  Not always so as the link to the post below will show. 

The General Idea

"I’m tired.

I mean, really fucking tired.

I apologize for beginning this somewhat delayed installment on such a whiny note, but it’s unfortunately the complete and utter truth. The closer I get to my escape from this ravaged, famished, forlorn country the slower the pendulum swings. How I miss the sweeping sun-up-sun-down days in the earlier months of our tour. A succession of six-day-long missions slumming it in compounds and on rooftops obliterated significant chunks of the calendar in such satisfyingly efficient fashion as to indicate an unstoppable momentum shoving us hurtling head first down the chute towards the plane ride home. Recently, that chute has mercilessly flipped over, presenting an unforgiving and gravity defying sheer wall. The wall. It’s been well and truly hit. Regrettably it’s not the only thing being hit over here these days. A week or so ago our guys offered up four more casualties to the Afghan altar. Two had their legs blown off by anti-personnel mines while a third was hit by debris from one of the explosions, and the fourth - a member of the air rescue team - was hit while loading the injured into the helicopter for evacuation. Jesus, do a good deed and there’s your thanks!"...

To give you a bit of background on the author of above mentioned blog post...That was taken directly from "Banks to Battlefields", written from within Kapisa province as a member of the French Foreign Legion who has been in country just a tad bit over the 5 month mark.   Legion-eire has just under 4 weeks left of his tour and as you read, you will note that he is getting pretty dang tired. 

Hmmm, now where have I heard the very same thing out of the mouth of one who was in that very same area not but a few years ago?  Perhaps it's the province itself that causes these types of thoughts in the men who are spending their time there? 
Nah, probably not.  I'd venture a guess that within a few weeks or months, he will be thinking of those he left behind in Afghanistan and be wanting to return.  Or maybe not.  Click the title link to finish reading this post.  Leave him your thoughts, and well wishes for a speedy completion of the remaining days he's facing.

Just so you know, he's not French per se, but an Irishman who gave up banking and joined the Legion.  I've been reading his blog for quite a while now, and have fallen in love with his descriptive style of writing. (Surprised any?  NOT)  He really is one of the good guys.  If you click on that link, you will find that he also has created a Facebook page for you to "like" if you're so inclined.  Why yes, yes I was of the mind to do just that.  I hope you are, too. 

With all that's been going on in Kapisa here lately, it's hard not to become concerned about the men and women who are living the reality of fighting the bad guys day in and day out.  I was told "Try not to worry" then and now. 

You betcha...TRY being the operative word here.  We saw how the first time worked out, didn't we? 



And so it goes......